Chapter 5: Who Is the Frog

Lin An’s heart was pounding wildly. “Did you... did you kill it?”

Ye Luo’s face remained expressionless. “The giant frog said the light is safe. It also said not to trust the other frogs.”

Lin An hesitated for a moment before he understood. “But this frog also said the light is safe. It didn’t lie. What... what does that mean?”

Ye Luo replied calmly, “The giant frog and the small frog must be on opposing sides. As the host of this scenario, the giant frog gave us two rules. Of these two, I suspect that one is true and one is false. If the first rule is false, then the light is not safe and the other frogs are indeed liars. In that case, this frog had to be killed. If the first rule is true and the second is false, then the light is safe and the small frogs are trustworthy.”

“Then why did you kill it so decisively?” Lin An’s voice was tinged with anxiety.

Ye Luo’s lips curved slightly. “Because it lied from the very beginning. It claimed it wanted to help us deal with the giant frog, and said all creatures fear the light. Naturally, these frogs would fear the light too. But the giant frog... it was standing right in the light.”

These smaller frogs couldn’t even approach the light. If the giant frog was the boss, how could they possibly help humans defeat it?

More than that, the giant frog held a massive microphone, its voice surely exceeding the scenario’s rule limit.

The giant frog was above the rules.

If it was truly the boss, why would it be exempt from the scenario’s restrictions?

The giant frog must be the true host, not the ultimate boss.

Therefore, the small frog had been lying all along.

And this also proved...

Ye Luo pressed her lips into a thin line.

The light... was not safe.

The giant frog had deliberately twisted the first rule.

So those who had headed for the bright area...

Before Ye Luo could think further, the roller coaster entered the 360-degree loop.

A sudden, violent sense of weightlessness assaulted them.

Lin An almost screamed but managed to hold it in.

Once the loop was over, the roller coaster landed smoothly.

All five of them disembarked, unscathed.

Ye Luo was about to bid the others farewell when, suddenly—

A voice sounded simultaneously in the minds of all five.

“Are you certain all five of you are truly human? An evil frog has infiltrated your group. How many frogs are among you? One, two, three—or even more? Within ten minutes, you must write down the name of the frog or frogs. If the humans correctly identify all the frogs without error, the humans win. If they make a mistake or fail to find all the frogs, the frogs win. The countdown begins now.”

A sheet of paper and a pen appeared before each of them. Overhead, a ten-minute timer ticked down, filling the air with oppressive tension.

Ye Luo’s expression changed; the others also looked uneasy.

During the roller coaster ride, apart from those in their own row, they could neither see nor hear what was happening in the other rows.

Clearly, the announcement was telling them that someone among them had been replaced by a frog.

Who had been replaced?

Ye Luo glanced around at the wary group, then spoke directly, “This roller coaster ride was divided by rows. For each pair, either both survived or both perished. So why don’t we first share what choices we made when confronted by the frogs? Did you kill the frog, or did you protect it?”

The woman from the couple opened her mouth to speak, but the crew-cut man stopped her, alert. “None of us knows the correct answer yet. What if you’re the frog, trying to trick us into revealing our decisions?”

Ye Luo’s expression didn’t change. “Then let’s each write our answer on our palms and reveal them at the same time.”

After a moment’s thought, the others nodded in agreement.

The five split into three small groups to write their answers.

“Big Sis Ye,” Lin An called out reflexively, “we two are definitely human. One of those three must have been replaced.”

Ye Luo was perfectly composed. “It’s also possible all of them have been replaced.”

Lin An shivered. “Then what should we write?”

“Just write the truth,” Ye Luo said.

Lin An nodded. “Anyway, when it comes to pointing out the frog, I’ll write whoever you write.”

Ye Luo gave him a look of mild disdain but didn’t object. Of the five, Lin An was the only one she could trust completely. Helping him, within her ability, was not out of the question.

Soon, everyone had finished writing.

“Let’s all show our palms at the same time,” Ye Luo said.

In unison, five hands opened.

On every palm, the same words appeared:

“Killed the frog.”

Lin An couldn’t help but exclaim, “All of us wrote we killed the frog? How can that be!”

The voice had clearly said a frog was among them.

If everyone had chosen to kill the frog, this situation would never have arisen.

“It’s simple. Someone is lying,” the crew-cut man sneered. “Frankly, whoever suggested this idea is too clever for their own good. Those not replaced by frogs would naturally have killed the frog. Those who have been replaced know exactly how to imitate humans. You’re just a woman—what makes you think you’re qualified to take charge?”

He looked at Ye Luo with open contempt, as if mocking her foolishness.

Lin An frowned, about to retort, but Ye Luo tugged at his sleeve with a sheepish look. “Sorry. That was stupid of me. So, what should we do next?”

Ye Luo, who had always appeared calm, now showed a rare trace of uncertainty and hesitation.

The crew-cut man smiled, effortlessly claiming the lead. “First, we can all agree: for each row, either both survived or both died, yes?”

No one objected.

“I was paired with Xiaorou. The frog tried to tempt us, but I remembered the main rule and didn’t believe it. I threw it off the roller coaster. So I can guarantee that neither of us was replaced.”

He looked at Lin An and Ye Luo.

Lin An scowled. “Why are you looking at us? We weren’t replaced either.”

“Not necessarily,” the crew-cut man replied with a thin smile. “You two could both be frogs, just covering for each other.”

Lin An grew indignant. “I could say you two are both frogs!”

The crew-cut man shrugged with an air of resignation, patronizingly dismissing Lin An’s accusation. “No need to get worked up. Actually, I’m inclined to believe you two are still human. The one I really suspect is...”

His gaze sharpened as he turned to the middle-aged man. “I remember, when we were reading the rules, you expressed distrust of the giant frog, suggesting it might have lied. That means you sided with the small frog. You likely didn’t kill it. Now, you’ve already been replaced! Haven’t you?”

The middle-aged man hesitated, unable to stay silent. “Nonsense! I was simply being rational and skeptical at the time. That doesn’t mean I didn’t change my mind later. I clearly chose to kill the frog—I’m a real human. As for you, you’re always accusing others—what makes you so special? If you ask me, you two are the ones who’ve been replaced!”

“Hmph. Barking louder because you’ve been exposed?” The crew-cut man turned to Ye Luo and Lin An. “If you trust me, vote for this middle-aged man. I believe he’s the only one among us who’s been replaced!”

“Ridiculous! The right answer is to vote for this pair of shameless lovers,” the middle-aged man shot back angrily.

The crew-cut man and the middle-aged man were now clearly at odds, arguing until they both looked at Ye Luo and Lin An.

The crew-cut man’s voice was icy. “Time’s almost up. What about you two? Who are you voting for?”